December has been Interesting

December is almost over, and as I look back it was a very mixed month. It started in Thanksgiving when I asked Gary to put up the tree. It took him 3 weeks to get the tree, bring it in the house and put the lights on. I let him pick it out this year and I think he found the barest tree in Chehalis. (This meant fewer lights for him to put on). This is a picture of our 2008 Charlie Brown Christmas tree.



For weeks we have been having a problem with our 30 year old heating system. Luckily we found the original papers in the files the previous owner left us. It explained why Gary had not been able to find the part for it, the part he needed was a retro fit. After bothering Tom at Ferguson nearly everyday, Gary found a part to fix the heating system. Unfortunately, he didn't really need the part that took 2 weeks to get, the problem was the spark plug. Gary couldn't find the right spark plug so he temporarily fixed it by inserting a wire in the system. We knew it would eventually fry and sure enough last night it did. So now Gary is machining a spark plug to get our system running. At least we have a wood stove to keep a couple of the rooms downstairs warm. The dogs have found a new spot to curl up.



Allie (Michelle's dog)



Gary braved the freezing temperatures and put up "The Forest". For years I have been accumulating different size spiral trees and last year I found a couple of bucks and a doe to add to the beauty. I was surprised when Laura came home and told me my yard looked "Redneck". She was shocked because the deer move. Yes, I was terribly offended but I still like my forest. I think it is as beautiful as my Christmas sweater. You can't see all the trees in this picture but it shows most of them. I think it turned out great in the now.




We celebrated our Klein Family Christmas the weekend before Christmas. Jenny & Trevor, and Laura and Blane braved the snow and came down Friday night. When they got here they warmed up with Kirsten's Minestrone Soup. The next morning Gary picked up his mom from Tenino and went with Laura and Blane to visit Gary's aunt in Sharon Care Center. When they got back we enjoyed a Prime Rib Meal with rice, Crescent Rolls (Pillsbury), Jell-o salad (Gary's mom Ava says you have to have at least one Jell-O Salad) and Caesar Salad. For desert we had Creme Brulee. It was a delicious meal and afterwards we opened presents. We did a gift exchange and Michelle got to watch from Chicago via the webcam. She let Dayton open a present which turned out to be a big mistake. Now he realized there were toys in the presents and in the morning the presents were everywhere.

Jenny and her husband Trevor


Laura and her boyfriend Blane


Gary and his mother Ava


Kirsten torching Creme Brulee


After dinner the "men" went outside to ride the go-cart. There was no traffic outside and about a foot of snow. You may not know this, but we rarely get snow here in Western Washington, and when we do it is maybe an inch or two.

Blane


Trevor


Gary got his mom home safe and sound, but very late. The next morning everyone had to go home. I think it took each of them about 3 hours to take a trip that normally takes 90 minutes.



We were supposed to leave on Monday to spend Christmas in Provo, but for the next 2 days the Interstates were closed on and off due to the snow. We decided to stay home and be safe.

Last night Gary and I went to the movies. I have never paid $9.50 a person for a movie before. It is a new theatre in the Lewis County Mall. There were about 10 different screens playing all the latest movies. After the shock of the admission we passed on any popcorn or drinks. I was looking forward to seeing Marley and Me. It was advertised as a funny family film. It is a story of a couple (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) that get married, get a dog and start a family. About half way through the film I realized how the movie was going and I almost got up and left. It started when the yellow lab Marley had a difficult time going up the stairs in their new home. We are now dealing with our dog Carly aging and she is having difficulty going up our stairs at night. I bring her bed downstairs during the day so she can curl up near me. I have never cried so hard at a movie before, and as soon as I got home I got some of the dog toys out and Carly, Allie and I played. (While Gary was trying to fix the heating system).

Today we got up and the tent Gary has had outside for several years caved in from the weight of the snow. We knew it was old and it had already started tearing. the problem is that Gary had a huge load of wood he had milled from a tree he cut down. He was drying the wood under the tent to take down to Provo for our house there. Yes, the wood was drenched but he did get a tarp over it right away.



I was released in my Church calling as the Secretary in Relief Society, a calling I have had for almost 4 years. I will truly miss the women I work with, but I am looking forward to my new calling. I am the Beehive Adviser for Young Women. I have never served in Young Women before but I am excited to be there.

I look back at December and even though it was hard, we are all happy and healthy and that is what counts. We may be a little cold and grumpy from what we've had to face, but together we can do it.